Ramped up pass rush expected

“Balls are going to be off line,” Weddle said. “(Quarterbacks) are not going to be on point every play. Those are the chances we can have to make plays.”

Cornerback Antonio Cromartie spoke of being grateful to Phillips and Merriman for their part in his 10-interception 2007. It's Cromartie's gigantic picture on the front of Chargers Park making that one-handed interception against Peyton Manning, but he knows Merriman was on Manning like a blanket as the Indianapolis quarterback let go of that pass.

“Without them, there is nothing possible,” Cromartie said of the Chargers' pass rush. “You can see that from last year.”

After leading the league in sacks in 2006 with 61 and ranking fifth in '07 with 42, the Chargers were 22nd in the NFL with 28 sacks last season. Not coincidentally, their pass defense fell from 13th in '06 and 14th in '07 to 31st out of 32 last season.

The secondary has taken much of the blame and deserves some. They have worked since March on being more precise, knowing their assignments and trusting each other. What showed in this preseason is that the Chargers' secondary was generally solid even without exotic blitzes and any real pressure.

“The way the defensive backs have worked,” Rivera said, “we should be happy.”